Zuk Z1 is the first smartphone with Snapdragon 801 to get Android Nougat update

Hardware maker Lenovo has announced that its Zuk Z1 smartphone will be the first Snapdragon 801 phone to receive an update to Android 7.0 Nougat. Until now, stories were circulating that an update was not possible.

In addition to the Z1, the Z2 Pro will also receive an update to Android 7.0 within two months, Gizmochina reports. This probably concerns the Chinese-language firmware with Zui, Lenovo’s own interface for its Zuk sub-brand. The European version first appeared with Cyanogen OS, but it doesn’t seem to get updates anymore.

Presumably, Lenovo can update the Z1 to Android Nougat, because it does not ask permission from Google and does not provide Google services. Devices with the Snapdragon 801 can run Android Nougat, but for unknown reasons Google does not want phones with that soc to receive an update. As a result, phones such as the Sony Xperia Z3, which did receive preview versions of Nougat, are deprived of the update. Phones with the much less powerful Snapdragon 410-soc sometimes get the update, such as the General Mobile Android One 4g.

Zuk is a brand that Lenovo carries in China. In Europe, it sells phones under the Moto banner, such as the Moto Z Play. Since this year, Lenovo devices have been added, such as the P2 and K3 Note.